World powers are planning to deliver aid to the besieged Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor using air drops by a Russian airliner, United Nations officials said on February 18.

Deir ez-Zor is encircled by Islamic State extremists. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric and a Russian UN representative said the World Food Program is using a Russian civilian aviation contractor which the organization had previously worked with in South Sudan for the air drops.

They spoke after a second meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Geneva that was focused on delivering aid to all 18 besieged areas in the country.

In the last 48 hours, 114 trucks have delivered life-saving supplies to 80,000 people, according to the Norwegian UN diplomat.